In the meadow we can build a snowman

smiths32 · Post by **smiths32** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 6:08 pm

Looks like I have to skip Katamari Damacy, oh well, I guess getting the best version of Ico is a small consolation (I look forward to that lightsaber). I'll see if I can't find it in the GAME bargain bin next time I go to Aberdeen (I live in a very remote area, the nearest GAME is 1.5 hours away), otherwise, I'll just have to ask Santa Claus to get it off Amazon for 40 squid. Anyways, surely I'm not the only one who opens up presents under the Christmas tree, what hoping to get?

Protodude · Post by **Protodude** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 6:21 pm

Meh, I usually know what I'm getting since I've helped my dad with "Black Friday" the past few years, telling him what to buy and not to buy for the family.

Post by **Delphine** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 6:53 pm

I give my mother a list and she tells me what she's bought so I don't go out and buy it for myself. Yeah, for me, Christmas means getting things for free I was going to buy eventually for anyway.

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 7:24 pm

but I'm an RPG whore so I would probably like it anyway.

Oh, me too, my idea of a dream weekend is still sitting around in my underwear playing a good, long RPG non-stop, breaking only to eat pizza and masturbate excessively. But Star Ocean would not be that game.

Most of the things I want are quirky geek devices that my parents wouldn't know how to go about finding anyway, so as of the past four or five years I generally just get one practical item that I'm too childish to buy for myself (electric razor, computer desk, clothes, etc) and then a hundred bucks or so in cash.

Baba O'Reily · Post by **Baba O'Reily** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 7:49 pm

My parents buying a violin bow, some steel wool, a glass cutter, some old coke bottles, and some sheet metal.
Why? Because I aspire to make the guitar sound different.

Zeta · Post by **Zeta** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 10:04 pm

I have aquired both Ico and Katamari Damacy.

Now I have a budget of about $100 to ask for Christmas gifts. I think I'm going to ask for GBA games, seeing as how I don't plan on getting a DS till Pokemon Pearl, and I only have Pokemon GBA games.

What should I ask for? Are there ANY must-have GBA games?

I was thinking of asking for FFTA, Mario and Luigi, Advance Wars, Minish Cap, maybe one of the Megaman games, and POSSIBLY Kingdom Hearts.

How's Fire Emblem?

Can anyone put in any other reccomendations?

I think I might be getting my boyfriend Myst IV . . . I'll ask him what he wants to be sure. He only PC games. He wanted the newest Myst and Sims 2 . . .

Post by **Segaholic2** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 10:12 pm

WarioWare.

Ngangbius · Post by **Ngangbius** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 10:29 pm

Minish Cap comes out in Feb 2005 in North America just in case you didn't know.

While I haven't played it myself, I heard from many people that Fire Emblem is a better SRPG than FFTA.

The Megaman Zero games are tough--I mean really ridiculously tough so if you don't mind throwing down you handheld in frustration, be my guest. Haven't played the .EXE series, yet.

The second Klonoa GBA game that is not Klonoa Heroes is finally coming out in Feb. 2005. I heard it is vastly improved from Empire of Dreams which good, but a bit more puzzle orintated than other Klonoa games.

Also, I would have suggested the PS2 game Shin Megami Tensei:Nocturne if I actually opened my copy and played it. Also, I don't know what is you skill level on RPGs--like are you willing to play a challenging RPG since that's what the MegaTen games usually are and this one's no exception. It has that monster collecting appeal(which the series done before Pokemon, DQ:Monsters, etc.) only with demons and other figures based on world religions, a story that takes place in contemporary Japan and I'm assuming features the battle between Heaven and Hell, a fast-paced battle-system, and multiple story paths and endings. I heard the soundtrack was good and I do know a free soundtrack that includes 30 of the best songs in the game is included in the first-print run of the title.

The only downside I heard about this game is that there are random battles everwhere--like there is no rest period in a town that you usually find in RPGs. It is like FF6's town Zozo in this game. Though, I'm not sure if the random battles are as frequent as a typical FF game. I've heard too many praises about this game on other gaming MB--calling it the RPG of the Year.

Post by **Crazy Penguin** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 11:27 pm

Ngangbius wrote:Minish Cap comes out in Feb 2005 in North America just in case you didn't know.

Really? It's already out in Europe, along with the limited edition GBA SP in time for the Christmas season. Nintendo of America have really dropped the ball on this one.

Psxphile · Post by **Psxphile** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 1:49 am

NoA marketing gurus say Minnish Cap is best in February for them. Who are we to argue?

If anyone on this side of the Atlantic want it THAT badly, they can import. With so many quality titles on a variety of consoles coming out within the wee two month span that is the holiday shopping season, it's probably better off in Feb.

While I haven't played it myself, I heard from many people that Fire Emblem is a better SRPG than FFTA.

Damn straight.

Ngangbius · Post by **Ngangbius** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 2:04 am

Crazy Penguin wrote:
Ngangbius wrote:Minish Cap comes out in Feb 2005 in North America just in case you didn't know.
Really? It's already out in Europe, along with the limited edition GBA SP in time for the Christmas season. Nintendo of America have really dropped the ball on this one.

Or they don't want it to get shuffled out of the way with, you know the release of the DS here and all.

smiths32 · Post by **smiths32** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 2:30 pm

I've heard good things about Fire Emblem, and I might just get it myself, besides, it's got Roy the kickass swordsman from Smash Bros. (at least that's what his trophy has lead me to believe) what's not to like about that? Mega Man Zero is good but hard, I thought it wasn't as hard as everyone bithches it to be but then again, I think that about all Mega Man games. BTW, Is Pokemon Green worth gettin?

Protodude · Post by **Protodude** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 5:03 pm

Green Gibbon! wrote:
but I'm an RPG whore so I would probably like it anyway.
Oh, me too, my idea of a dream weekend is still sitting around in my underwear playing a good, long RPG non-stop, breaking only to eat pizza and masturbate excessively. But Star Ocean would not be that game

Really? I've heard some pretty good things about it, and it looks decent enough.

I've played a lot of RPG's and only 2 have bugged me to near death, the first being Xenosaga. I like the story, even if I don't really get the whole depth of it (but who does?), but the battles are just to idiotic to comprehend. The battle system itself is pretty easy enough, give or take a few things, but the enemies range from easy fucks to hard fucks. One second you're rolling along with the battles, but then you come to a boss and get your ass handed to you. This may not be a problem to some, but it just bugs me a lot. The second being Legend of Mana, because this game was SO close to being one of the best RPG's ever. The soundtrack is amazing, and the graphics are mind-blowingly perfect. I could just stare at the beautiful backgrounds for a long time without going mad. Only 2 things plague this game badly; the battles, and the fact that there is no true story. You could almost defineity play through the whole game without worrying about buying new equipment or learning new abilities and such. This may not sound bad to some, but doing nothing but hitting the X and Square button gets old. Otherwise the battles are just like the other Mana games, but with less detail and depth. Now, the fact that there is no story is just flat-fuck dumb. All you really do is go from world to world, completing idiotic quests such as helping a centaur score some with a butterfly/human chick, or searching for some dumg bitch in a cave, along with others. Right now I'm currently playing Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete, and I'm enjoying it.

plasticwingsband · Post by **plasticwingsband** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 7:56 pm

If you have a GC, Protodude, you should definitely get Tales of Symphonia if you haven't already. It's undeniably awesome.

Ngangbius · Post by **Ngangbius** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 8:03 pm

Protodude wrote:
Really? I've heard some pretty good things about it, and it looks decent enough.

I actually heard mixed reviews of the game and one of the biggest complaints I hear which keeps me from picking up the title is that the battle system is broken--completely broken.

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 8:26 pm

Yeah, the combat in Star Ocean is a load of bullshit. It starts off okay, but the further you progress, the more prominent its flaws become. It's damn near unplayable near the end.

Protodude · Post by **Protodude** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 9:34 pm

Really now? I've only read a few reviews....

No, I don't have a GC, but maybe there's a chance the PS2 version of Tales of Symphonia will come here? Kinda doubt it.....

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 9:51 pm

I think Namco already confirmed that it wasn't. I don't know why though, I'd think it'd be a no-brainer with the translation already done. Was that version supposed to have anything extra?

Psxphile · Post by **Psxphile** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 10:00 pm

Another appearance by cameo master Dante.

Yeah, I'm kidding.

Ngangbius · Post by **Ngangbius** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 6:51 am

Green Gibbon! wrote:I think Namco already confirmed that it wasn't. I don't know why though, I'd think it'd be a no-brainer with the translation already done. Was that version supposed to have anything extra?

A few extra animated cutscenes and that's all I know.

But I don't really think its worth it since I've seen the comparision videos of the PS2 and GC versions and the PS2 version had painfully-slow loading times and moved at 30 FPS slowing the flow of the game considerably. The graphics are also blurry and watered-down.

Post by **Squirrelknight** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 1:36 pm

smiths32 wrote:I've heard good things about Fire Emblem, and I might just get it myself, besides, it's got Roy the kickass swordsman from Smash Bros. (at least that's what his trophy has lead me to believe) what's not to like about that?

The Fire Emblem that Roy was in never came out in the U.S.; the one that was released in the U.S. is a prequel of sorts to the game he was in. There's a character on the box that bears a striking resemblance to him, but that's someone else (Eliwood).

For those looking for a GBA game, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories comes out on Dec. 4. I'm a little wary since it's a card game, but it has damn nice FMV on the GBA, and the box is shiny. Plus, since it connects the story from KH1 to KH2 (which I'm buying fo-sho'), I get the feeling I'll be a little lost in KH2 without it.

My dad really doesn't know what the fuck to get me for Christmas, so he usually just gives me a hoarde of cash. It's really the best present in the world. I'll be buying some of the games I missed out on this season, first and foremost being Katamari Damacy, then maybe I'll give Tales of Symphonia a shot. Metroid Prime 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 are pretty high on my list of priorities as well.

Ah, who am I kidding, I'm gonna use Christmas to score myself more Hikaru CD's.

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 1:53 pm

While we're on the subject of RPG's, what's up with Baten Kaitos? Has anyone picked it up? Or what about that Mega Man X RPG that came out about a month ago? Being that I haven't heard anything about it, I guess it's no good?

Protodude · Post by **Protodude** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 4:48 pm

Megaman X: Command Mission didn't get really good reviews, but my friend said it was just ok. Baten Kaitos got moderate reviews, and it's by Monolith Soft (ex-square members who made Xenosaga I and II), so I might check it out if my friend gets it, although I don't think it's going to be that great.

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 6:18 pm

There was a PS1 RPG by Monolith that came out I think right after they seperated from Square. I don't remember the name of it, and it wasn't released outside Japan, but the game looked really nice. It had a Japanese painting sort of look to it and looked like it was based on a hodgepodge of oriental myths. What was that game called?

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 6:38 pm

I got it, Khamrai is the game I'm thinking of. It was released right at the ass end of the PS1's life, and there is no information about it anywhere. It looks cool, though, I wonder if it's still possible to get a hold of without selling a testicle. I suppose it's useless to ask if anyone here has played it?

What about Shadow Hearts 2? I didn't play Koudelka or the first Shadow Hearts, but was moderately curious about both. So what's the word on this new one? (Again I reiterate, I do not care what the reviews are. I'm looking for first-hand opinions so I can ask follow-up questions.)